Chapter 3

3.

The next day, news of my new company leaked, and the industry was buzzing.

Some saw an opportunity and brought investment proposals overnight.

But most people were just laughing, waiting for the Thornes to crush me.

Someone was clearly paying the paparazzi to write articles about how I was punching above my weight.

I scrolled past the headlines without expression.

I didn't expect a call from Vanessa.

"Silas, stop playing games."

"Running a company isn't a hobby. That settlement money won't last a week. I haven't filled your old position yet. Come back."

I gave her a cold rejection. "Don't worry about me, Ms. Thorne."

There was a silence on the other end. She sounded annoyed but kept her patience.

"Silas, can't you try to understand me? I just found true love."

"Besides, why run some pathetic startup when you can stay at Thorne Enterprises?"

"That Southside merger you were working on..."

I hung up on her.

Of course.

She just realized she needed her favorite tool back.

That Southside project was a beast I spent six months securing, even getting an ulcer from the stress.

Without me, the Thorne team had no idea how to close it.

At Thorne, I was the President, but my monthly allowance was three thousand dollars.

All because my "noble" father-in-law said we were family and money shouldn't matter.

I used to think it was a test of my character.

Now I realized I was just high-tier, low-cost labor.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.

I made a decision.

All the projects I brought to Thorne in my past life―if my new company couldn't take them, I'd hand-deliver them to Thorne's biggest rivals.

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